Corn is a popular crop for growing at home, which pleases with fresh ears in the summer. To get a high-quality harvest, it is important to follow the recommendations for site selection, soil preparation, sowing, and care. In this article, we’ll take a look at the key points for successful corn cultivation in your garden.
Table of contents
Choosing a location for planting corn
Important factors to consider when choosing a location for planting corn:
- Lighting: corn is a light-loving crop, so the area for growing it should be well-lit and protected from shading by trees or buildings. An open sunny area is ideal.
- Soil: corn grows best in fertile, well-drained soils with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction (pH 6.0-7.5). It’s also important that the soil is loose and structured to ensure good aeration of the root system.
- Crop rotation: it’s not recommended to grow corn in the same place every year. The ideal option is to alternate with legumes or other crops to change soil conditions and prevent the accumulation of pests and diseases.
- Wind protection: strong winds can break or knock down corn, so it’s worth choosing an area protected from prevailing winds by natural or artificial windbreaks.
- Convenience for care: the planting site should be convenient for regular watering, soil loosening, and harvesting. It’s also important to provide enough space between rows for passage.
- Water availability: corn needs regular moisture, especially during ear formation. Therefore, the plot should be located near a water source or be equipped with an irrigation system.
By considering these factors, you’ll be able to select an ideal location for growing corn, ensuring optimal conditions for its growth and development.
Soil preparation
Before planting corn, it’s necessary to properly prepare the soil. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 6-8 inches to improve air and water access to the plant roots. It’s also recommended to add fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to enhance corn growth.
Sowing seeds
When the soil is ready, you can proceed to sowing the seeds. Corn grows best in rows spaced about 30-36 inches apart. Sow the seeds at a depth of about 1-2 inches, providing sufficient space for bush growth.
Caring for corn
Key aspects of proper corn care:
- Moisture: corn needs regular watering, especially during flowering and ear formation periods. Insufficient moisture can seriously affect yield. Depending on soil and climate conditions, plants should be watered 1-2 times a week.
- Soil loosening: regular loosening of the inter-row spaces will help retain moisture, improve soil aeration, and control weed growth. However, be careful not to damage the corn’s root system.
- Fertilization: to ensure optimal growth, corn needs fertilizer application. It’s usually recommended to apply nitrogen fertilizers in the early stages of development, as well as phosphorus-potassium fertilizers during ear formation.
- Weed control: weeds are serious competitors for corn, so it’s important to control their growth through mechanical loosening, mulching, or the use of approved herbicides.
- Protection from pests and diseases: monitoring corn for diseases and pests is crucial. If necessary, appropriate protection measures should be taken, including the use of biological or chemical preparations.
- Removal of side shoots: to improve yield, it’s recommended to remove side shoots or “suckers” promptly, leaving only one strong central stem.
- Pollination: to ensure good pollination of corn ears, it’s important to sow densely enough and in rows for free cross-pollination.
By following these care practices, you can create favorable conditions for corn growth and development, maximize its yield potential, and obtain a quality harvest.
Harvesting
Corn is usually ready for harvest 60-90 days after planting, depending on the variety. Harvest corn when the kernels are fully ripe but not yet dried out. Pull the ear from the plant by carefully twisting it off, and enjoy fresh, delicious ears of corn!
Popular questions about planting corn
What conditions are needed for planting corn?
Corn needs warm and sunny weather for successful growth. The best temperature for corn growth is between 64°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C). It’s also important that the soil is well-drained and nutritious. Corn grows best in soils with a pH level between 5.8 and 7.0.
How deep should corn seeds be planted?
Corn seeds are usually planted at a depth of about 2-3 inches (5-7 cm). In heavy soils, you can plant a bit shallower — at a depth of 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm), and in light soils — up to 3 inches (8 cm) deep. This helps ensure optimal conditions for germination.
What’s the optimal spacing between corn plants?
The optimal spacing between corn plants is usually 8-10 inches (20-25 cm), and between rows — 28-30 inches (70-75 cm). This allows each plant to have enough space for growth and development, ensuring proper ventilation and access to sunlight.
How often should corn be watered?
Corn needs regular watering, especially during the period of active growth, flowering, and ear formation. On average, corn needs about 1-2 inches (25-50 mm) of water per week. It’s recommended to water the plants once a week, ensuring moisture in the soil to the depth of the roots (6-8 inches or 15-20 cm).
How to determine when corn is ready for harvest?
Corn is ready for harvest when the ears turn yellow and the kernels feel hard to the touch. This usually happens 18-24 days after pollination. You can also check readiness by breaking off a layer of kernels from the cob and piercing it with a fingernail — if milk comes out, the corn is not yet ripe. For greater accuracy, you can use the method of determining ripeness by the “milk” stage of the grains, which lasts about 20 days after the appearance of tassels.